Hi folks, I am considering buying a second GL1000 that needs total refurbishment, including the engine.I have no experience or knowledge of this type of job other than watching it on You tube.Is there any chance at all I would be able to do it, I have plenty of tools, Enough I believe to do the job and I would be prepared to buy additional tools if required, are there any books I could buy on this topic??Thanks in anticipation.

I believe a person can do almost anything they set their mind to doing.

I believe you can do it. If you get a manual, take your time, and pay attention to detail, the rest is not much more than loosening and tightening of fasteners. You may need a set of micrometers, and a dial indicator.. maybe a few other tools, but when it is all boiled down to the most basic set of skills, most engines are more or less the same. Sequence of parts removal and installation is what I'd have to rely on the manual for... tolerances too, of course.

Take pictures, take notes.. and of course if you get stuck, there's always the Internet to use as a safety net..

I am wrong as often as I am right concerning what is wrong with someone else' motorcycle without having seen the machine in person. Guessing with limited information, as to the source of the trouble, is sketchy at best.

You can do it..... I did a complete rebuild of my 76 11 years ago before I knew anything about the forums on the net. This included splitting the cases. I had nothing for reference except the official Honda manual. The only thing I out sourced was having the heads checked, cleaned, new seals and the valves lapped. I had most of the tools needed and the only "specialty" tool I remember purchasing was a piston ring compressor. One caution though, you may not be able to find some internal parts if needed. Main bearings are an example. Some of them are as rare as hens teeth. My engine had 45k miles on it when I rebuilt it and I didn't have to replace anything inside. Parts showed almost no wear. Go for it!!!!!

Tom

Tom

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Can any one tell me if new engine parts are still available for a GL1000 engine, as I guess it is a waste of time looking to strip and rebuild an engine if there are no parts available to make the rebuild as good as possible.I really dont know why I want to do this, its just something I fancy having a go at and I dont want to do it to my existing GL1000 engine just in case I mess something up, my thought was if I can do it once then I can do it over again if I need to.RgdsJohn

GL1000-1976-SCX-593P wrote:Can any one tell me if new engine parts are still available for a GL1000 engine, as I guess it is a waste of time looking to strip and rebuild an engine if there are no parts available to make the rebuild as good as possible.I really dont know why I want to do this, its just something I fancy having a go at and I dont want to do it to my existing GL1000 engine just in case I mess something up, my thought was if I can do it once then I can do it over again if I need to.RgdsJohn

Not a lot of parts are still available new. You will find gasket kits, and other "wear" items, but give up hope trying to find new crank bearings, etc.

I'm hoping someone can help me. I have been looking for two days now, but can find nothing on do I have to split the engine on my GL 1000 1976 to get the piston and change the rings I can find nothing that tells me how it's done. I got the service. It tells you what to do after it's out, but it doesn't say anything about how to get them out. I hope someone can help me. This is for my husband, so I'm sure I have not set everything right. Please let me know of anybody can help

You must split the case in half to remove the pistons.There are several bolts that hold it together,some on both sides.Half of the case holds the crankshaft and those two pistons,the left half holds the pistons seperate.The case is difficult to split even with all the bolts out.There are guide sleeves that do stick.Using wedges,pry gently till the entire case starts to seperate.Dont drive a screwdriver into the seam.When you split the case lift it gently straight off,watch the 2 pistons as they come out of the sleeves..don't let them just drop out.They can be nicked if they fall over.The other 2 pistons are removed by removing entire crank and pulling them out.Do not push them out.pull them toward the inside.Don't mix up the bearings or direction.if there re-used,they must go back into the exact same place. There is no gasket between the case halves and none is required.Do not use any silicone anywhere around the engine.The halves are machine fitted and normally never leak oil.Putting the halves back is the hardest.It takes 2 people.Both pistons for the left must go into the sleeve exactly right.I got one a bit crooked and broke a compression ring.I couldn't handle the case alignment,piston alignment,ring compression all by myself.2 people going very slowly works best.

I rebuilt my gl1000 many years ago.even then I couldn't find main bearings.I did find that the same year in a honda civic used the same piston size and the rings did fit.I took a chance and got the rod bearings.they were the correct diameter but about 2mm wider.The gasket kit...the head gasket needed "adjustments" .cheap Korean look alike.There is a big difference between OEM and OEM replacement.Some are just not a perfect fit.I spent more time making stuff work than the rebuild took.

Use baggies to mark where the bolts came from cup cake tins work well you no dall those magnets on the fridge place theminthe bottom of the tins to hold the bolts /screws in the tins cardboard works well for marking bollt location for head bolts

I have bid on a barn find GL1000 on Ebay which is in need of a lot of TLC, The good thing is it has only done 18k miles. What I would like to know from someone who has stripped and checked out a GL1000 motor, what are the absolutely must have tools besides the normal spanners, socket sets, torque wrenchs, Allen Keys and feeler gauges???Also before getting involved in stripping the motor down would it be best to change the timing belts and get the motor running to see how it goes.Cheers John

Got 1 of 2 GL1000 motors in bits, going to be cleaned at a specialists next week, need some parts which seem to be hard if not impossible to get!!!! need some bearings and big end bearings and mains bearings, as I dont see the point in reassembly without new bearings etc.The gears all look in really good condition.Just not sure how to work out if the various chains are OK IE not stretched.Thanks in advance.

GL1000-1976-SCX-593P wrote:Got 1 of 2 GL1000 motors in bits, going to be cleaned at a specialists next week, need some parts which seem to be hard if not impossible to get!!!! need some bearings and big end bearings and mains bearings, as I dont see the point in reassembly without new bearings etc.The gears all look in really good condition.Just not sure how to work out if the various chains are OK IE not stretched.Thanks in advance.

GL1000-1976-SCX-593P wrote:Got 1 of 2 GL1000 motors in bits, going to be cleaned at a specialists next week, need some parts which seem to be hard if not impossible to get!!!! need some bearings and big end bearings and mains bearings, as I dont see the point in reassembly without new bearings etc.The gears all look in really good condition.Just not sure how to work out if the various chains are OK IE not stretched.Thanks in advance.

He sometimes gets them and can put you on the long, long list of people looking for them.

Don't hold your breath tho waiting for any to show up anywhere.

Bearing shells are getting in desperately short supply now, particularly the popular ones. I have some, not many left, but if you can tell me what you need I will see what I can find for you. That could take some considerable time.I can supply you with piston rings.Click on the logo below to contact me

The primary chain WILL be stretched. Renew it as a matter of course.As long as you use quality pattern gaskets you will be ok. Athena or Vesrah.You NEED a workshop manual. Don't work on these engines without one; that is just asking for trouble!

'Impossible' is just a level of difficulty!The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask first!

GL1000-1976-SCX-593P wrote:Got 1 of 2 GL1000 motors in bits, going to be cleaned at a specialists next week, need some parts which seem to be hard if not impossible to get!!!! need some bearings and big end bearings and mains bearings, as I dont see the point in reassembly without new bearings etc.The gears all look in really good condition.Just not sure how to work out if the various chains are OK IE not stretched.Thanks in advance.

He sometimes gets them and can put you on the long, long list of people looking for them.

Don't hold your breath tho waiting for any to show up anywhere.

Bearing shells are getting in desperately short supply now, particularly the popular ones. I have some, not many left, but if you can tell me what you need I will see what I can find for you. That could take some considerable time.I can supply you with piston rings.Click on the logo below to contact me

The primary chain WILL be stretched. Renew it as a matter of course.As long as you use quality pattern gaskets you will be ok. Athena or Vesrah.You NEED a workshop manual. Don't work on these engines without one; that is just asking for trouble!

Hello Old Fogey (J) I forgot you mentioned about shells and piston rings etc, I will certainly give you an e-mail once we have measured and checked the sizes, The pistons are in good condition but I did think it would be best to change the rings and I will be ordering a full set of gaskets and seals once I have all the casings cleaned which I am hoping to get done in the next week or so.A couple still have the colour code but not all.Regards John